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Shadowrun boxart, release in early June?
Com Raven, over at the Shadowrun forums came across the boxart for Shadowrun at EBgames, albeit for the PC version. It looks pretty nice and has some cool action in the foreground and background. The RNA teleporting Human weilds a Katana with a Troll with Glider in tow (commonly referred to as a "floating tank"). The Lineage Troll and Human return fire with a minigun and rifle, respectively. Also worth noting is that the Pre-Release is listed as shipping on the 29th of May, so perhaps Shadowrun is due in early June? Full resolution boxart also available for your scrutiny.[Thanks, Com Raven]
Shane Kim vs. Shadowrun haters: Fight!
In a recent interview with Gamasutra, Shane Kim spoke at length about Microsoft's decision to turn Shadowrun -- a classic pen and paper RPG franchise -- into a first-person shooter. Gamasutra notes that many Shadowrun fans were (understandably) miffed when they discovered that the new Shadowrun title would be an FPS. In response, Kim states that Microsoft has been battling that reception and trying to convince players that the game is worthy on its own merits. Kim notes that while Shadowrun may not be an RPG, fans will be pleased to see that FASA has been faithful to the Shadowrun universe while adapting it to an FPS. Kim goes on to say that many skeptical Shadowrun fans have come away impressed after actually playing the game. Kim believes word of mouth is what's needed to convince the rest.With the NDA on the Shadowrun beta lifted, you can rest assured that you'll be getting plenty "word of mouth" from us in the near future.Any Shadowrun fans out there also on the beta? What do you think, is Shadowrun for the 360 faithful to its roots?
Shadowrun Beta NDA lifted
Over the past 4 months, beta testers for Shadowrun have had to acknowledge the NDA and keep tight lipped about the goings on in the game. Today, FASA officially lifted the NDA, and testers are allowed to speak freely about their experiences in the game. FASA reminds us that the beta does not use final art, and to consult their screenshots to get an idea of how the game will look. Also, the gameplay is constantly being tweaked and balanced, including feedback from the testers themselves having a prominent effect. For example, before the patch when it was just Elves and Humans with a portion of the Tech and Magic, the shotgun was not that effective. After the patch added all the remaining tech, magic and races, FASA also changed the balance of the weapons, giving the shotgun a significant boost in power. Some think it's been given too much power and that it's effectiveness at range should be reduced. When running into FASA devs online, as they do play the beta frequently, they've said that the shotgun's current stats aren't final, though they are closer than in the initial build. Another example would be that in the beta, Humans take a smaller penalty to their available essence than any other race for the tech they equip. It's been confirmed that there will be no penalty to their essence for any tech equipped, which will drastically change the balance of the game between now and June. In any case, should any extraordinary occurrences take place in the beta, our blogging testers will definitely keep you up to date.
Is FASA closing its doors?
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Shadowrun_studio_closing_its_doors'; With all the hype Microsoft is trying to generate around Shadowrun, you'd think team morale at FASA would be riding high. A thread on the official Shadowrun forums would seem to indicate otherwise. A poster by the name of Boomstick, claiming to be an employee of FASA, has declared that FASA is shutting its doors. Boomstick notes that FASA has serious human resource problems and poor management, mentioning several names in the process. He adds that Shadowrun brings nothing new to the FPS genre and is graphically subpar. While we (almost) see his point about the game's graphics, we know from personal experience that Shadowrun has plenty to offer hardcore FPS fans.Naturally, we questioned Boomstick's identity as an employee, but a post by FASA's lead program manager gives him validity. The lead program manager, whose user name is Kimona, stated that many of FASA's workers may choose to leave at the end of the Shadowrun project, noting that this kind of turnover is normal and even healthy. Furthermore, Kimona states that FASA's contingent staff is required to take a mandatory "break" after working for a certain amount of time. Kimona closes the statement saying that Boomstick's personal attacks (in a public space no less) are inappropriate.Is there a real problem at FASA, or are these simply the ramblings of one disgruntled employee?[Thanks, Lorul2]
Shadowrun in June, PC Live features revealed
Tucked away inside Microsoft's latest Windows Live press release is the official release month for Shadowrun. EGM speculated that the game would see release in April, but the press release reveals that the official month is June. We would have preferred to rock some Shadowrun a little earlier, but at least this gives us something to play over the summer.The press release also reveals that the Windows Vista release of Halo 2 will be May 8th. In addition, the press release outlines what PC users can expect from Windows Live. Silver members can utilize Gamertags, voice chat, gamerscore, single player achievements, friends lists, and PC only multiplayer. Gold membership grants access to matchmaking, TrueSkill matchmaking, multiplayer achievements, and cross-platform gameplay. Full press release after the break.
EGM: Shadowrun releases in April
The never sleeping spies at EGM report that Shadowrun will release next month. This comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering that FASA would only say "spring" when we inquired about a release date last week at GDC. Of course, if the latest EGM is right, we certainly aren't going to complain. We enjoyed our time with the game at GDC and are looking forward to taking on the real thing. Anyone planning on picking Shadowrun up if it launches next month?
GDC 07: Shadowrun hands on
The room is set up with two very large Samsung HDTVs. In front of one monitor is a slick gaming mouse and keyboard. In front of the other is an Xbox 360 controller. We sit through the expected spiel: Shadowrun has magic, trolls, dwarves, all that stuff. But how does it play? Is it fun? Microsoft's Michael Wolf and FASA's Technical Chraracter Designer, Michael Lowrance, sure make it look fun. Finally, we get our shot (that's me and two folks from Game Informer). I'm holding a pad, my foe wields the KB and mouse. I'm a dwarf. He's a troll. Time to ask it again: is it fun?
FASA sheds light on Shadowrun's offline experience
Eurogamer sat down with Mitch Gitelman and went over some Shadowrun details. First off, Mitch clarifies that in terms of the solitary experience, there are six training sessions that players can play, after each of which there is a skirmish match against bots for you to test out the related game mechanics from that lesson. On top of that, you can play matches against bots on any gametype in any arena to practice strategy and learn the maps. So while there may not be any split screen, you still can play offline against bots who are perfectly capable of using the tech and magic effectively. They'll resurrect you if you die, teleport to flank enemies, and call out enemy positions using Enhanced Vision and Situational Awareness. The interview also has details about the online experience, confirming that there won't be ranked matches. Although, we now know they are using the TrueSkill equation for matchmaking purposes, but not showing players what that ranking is. Expect a hands-on report from Richard down at GDC soon.
Shadowrun PC cross-platform requires Live Gold
In the latest Shadowrun trailer, there is a little snippet that you Games for Windows users may want to pay attention to. We all know that to play Shadowrun's Xbox 360 version online, you're going to need an Xbox Live Gold account. Likewise, to play Shadowrun cross-platform on Vista, you're going to need a Gold Live account for Windows. At this point, there hasn't been any pricing announced with regards to Gold Live accounts on Vista, so there's no telling what may be the better deal. Also, given that they explicitly state "cross platform", that may mean that PC only servers may be playable with Silver Live accounts and will be free of charge. Interesting food for thought. Do any of you plan on playing Shadowrun on your PC?[Via Joystiq]
Shadowrun questions answered
There's a canned Shadowrun Q&A floating around that details some of the game's lauded features. First of all, the question and answer session explains Live Anywhere and how it works on a PC. Essentially, it's exactly the same as it is on Xbox 360. Playing on Vista, players will have access to voice chat, friends lists, gamerscore, acheivements, and (eventually) Marketplace. The rest of the interview reads more or less like a laundry list to propagate the game's bullet points. For example, the controller vs. mouse debate is covered, with FASA studio manager, Mitch Gitelman, who notes that the game was designed for both from the ground up. Gitelman says that approximately half the testing team are Counter-Strike players and the other half are Halo players, and none complain about unfair advantages. While mouse players may have an aiming advantage, they can still be outclassed by players with a better grasp on magic and techniques. Finally, the game supports 16 players online and should ship with 8-10 maps. Hit the "read" link for the Q&A.In related news, the official Shadowrun website should post a new trailer some time today. We'll keep you posted.
Shadowrun: Dean Takahashi is unimpressed
Dean Takahashi of the Mercury News has posted his impressions of Shadowrun, the upcoming Live Anywhere launch title from FASA Studio. He takes some time to discuss the game's story and then gets down to the nitty-gritty. He briefly mentions many of the things we've covered before: magical powers, gliding, etc. In the end though, Takahashi seems less than impressed. He notes that the graphics "aren't anything special," adding that they are more or less on par with Halo 2. He also cites the game's multiplayer focus as a risky maneuver by Microsoft, as it may only appeal to the hardcore gamer set.Our own impressions of the game (listen to our podcast for more) were much more favorable. Then again, we are the hardcore gamer set, so we may not be the best judges. What do you think? Based on what you've seen and read, are you looking forward to Shadowrun?See Also:Shadowrun: CTF with a magical twist (Video)
Shadowrun: CTF with a magical twist
GameTrailers snagged a couple of videos from Shadowrun at CES. Qualms about the graphics aside, the game looks like it could be a lot of fun. These two videos show off some of the magic used in the game, including the tree of life -- which heals anyone who stands under it, enemies included -- and the teleportation spell. We dig the radial selection menus, though it looks like the player in the video struggled with it a little. Also, the teleportation seems a little confusing, though it will probably make more sense when we're the ones behind the controller. Check out the video above and the other after the break and tell us what you think.
Shadowrun will have party based Live play
Shadowrun, Microsoft's Live Anywhere launch title, is coming along nicely, according to Lead Designer, John Howard. Howard is interviewed in the latest episode of Major Nelson's blogcast and speaks at length about his job and the development of Shadowrun. A few choice bits of information are revealed, chief among them is that Shadowrun will feature a party based online system similar to Halo 2. What this means is that friends will be able to form a party online and face other players as a team. Many of you will remember that Gears of War has been criticized for lacking such a system. With Shadowrun now including a party system, Epic's excuse for excluding the feature -- essentially, "Microsoft made us do it" -- is getting flimsier all the time. Howard also speaks to the age old debate of mouse vs. controller, stating that the issue doesn't even come up during Shadowrun play tests. He goes on to say that the controls were designed for the 360 first, which may explain how well they work. In fact, he says that many testers actually prefer the gamepad to a keyboard and mouse combo. Head over to Major Nelson to hear the whole interview. And, don't forget to sign up for the Shadowrun beta if you're interested.
Sign up for the Shadowrun beta
Microsoft and FASA Studio have officially announced the Shadowrun beta program. Shadowrun, you may recall, is the launch vehicle for Microsoft's Live Anywhere service, allowing gamers on both PC and Xbox 360 to compete with each other. An FPS that combines both technology and magic, Shadowrun looks to bring something different to the shooter genre -- and answer the age old keyboard and mouse/gamepad question once and for all. Find instructions on how to participate in the beta after the break.
Moore: Too Human, Crackdown, Forza 2, Shadowrun by end of June
Speaking with MTV's Stephen Totilo, Peter Moore promised that Crackdown, Forza Motorsport 2, Shadowrun, and Too Human would all see release by the end of June 2007. While Shadowrun's debut has always hinged on the availability of Windows Vista (FASA's game is cross-platform), the other three titles were once expected to round out Xbox 360's exclusive holiday lineup this year. As it goes, Gears of War and Viva Piñata will have to convince shoppers to pass on PlayStation 3 and Wii -- or shortages will. Still, with PS3 likely in short supply early next year, Microsoft has an opportunity to attract potential consumers with well-timed releases throughout the tail end of winter, leading into summer. But don't be surprised if a few of these exclusives continue to slip, landing alongside Master Chief in next year's holiday release batch.
Xbox 360 impressions: Shadowrun
Shadowrun is Microsoft's launch pad for Live Anywhere, the game that the company hopes will unite (in comradery and competition) Xbox 360 and PC gamers. It's an online-based game similar to Counter-Strike, only with magic and tech enhancements (e.g. the ability to glide).Since Shadowrun can't be released until Vista is deployed, developer FASA has clearly had -- and will have -- a lot of time to fine tune this title. The weapons, magic, and tech abilities are well balanced, and players will have to pick and choose wisely.Mechanics aside, the demo map we previewed was extremely bland. It did however, highlight some of the unique tactics that must be employed to win, including teleporting through walls and floors, planting health replenishing trees, and using extra-sensory vision. It was a lot to handle in a 10-minute session, which is a sign that Shadowrun has the depth to support Microsoft's vision.
